learning and growing

 As a child I used to take pride in the 50paisa coins or the one rupee coins that were given to me by my father and grandfather. I used to collect those coins and keep it inside a little purse that I got from a nearby shop in our locality. When the coins hit a certain mark, say rs30 Or rs40, I used to buy chocolates or toffees. It used to be my chief delight back when I was in class two and three.  Strangely, my grandfather ate most of those toffees that I used to buy. The ideal time for him to consume those toffees was in the afternoon when I used to take a nap. On such occasions after waking up from my afternoon nap all I could do was shout and cry. Haha. And my grandfather used to come and supplement the loss with more toffees.   I often think of it now a days and understand why my grandfather who could have bought the whole shop chose to steal those toffees that I bought. Later when I grew up all that he ever asked of me was " When will you be able to make a cup ...

 Durga Puja 2023 has come to an end and a 'Subho Bijoya' to all my readers. It has been a wonderful Durga Puja. I don't want to write in detail about all the five days of Puja and how I spent it because there is nothing new in the joy of pandal hopping, hanging out with friends and having good food. However, Saptami this year was special. Mother and I had a lovely time in a houseboat that we booked for a day in Mangaldhara Lodge, Barrackpore. Early morning, we set out for Barrackpore. We reached our SBSTC bus depot in City Centre, boarded a bus at 6:15 am in the morning and reached our destination at 1:00pm. It was our first time in Barrackpore.The check-in time was 12:00pm. After completing all the formalities we headed towards our houseboat. There were two houseboats placed one beside the other. We crossed the little bridge to move to the front area of the houseboat. From there we took a left and passed the common drawing room area and entered the narrow hallway of the ho...

During my time spent in Chhatarpur, I had developed a special affinity for the small tea stall that was located near our area of residence there. Mother and I visited the tea stall almost every evening. The owner of the tea stall could not speak in Hindi properly and spoke in their own Bundelkhand accent. My mom knew no Hindi and I too was not very fluent. But both mom and I bonded with the man, his wife and two daughters. I still wonder how they understood our language because my mother spoke in plain Bengali even if it was Hindi. Bengali readers will know what I am trying to say here. I started calling him 'Chacha' and during my last few days there, he promised my mother that he would readily come to my wedding to serve tea to the guests and would wait for the invitation eagerly. He blessed both my mother and me. I recalled this incident with a smile on my face yesterday evening while mother and I were chit-chatting over tea. I completed by B.Ed from a university there in Chh...

Ten years since 2013. The year when I stepped into my college. A new world, a new culture and a completely new environment with new faces. College felt numb and so did my P. G. Always thought of holidays, felt happier when got them. Three months at a stretch sometimes. Holidays always meant an escape to my hometown, to my family. Now it's my mother and me and the idea of hometown does not excite me anymore. It's just a place where I survive and try to thrive. There is no escape even when there are plenty of options. Think I already know what hell might feel like.  With a deeper understanding of life, universe and humans, my mind has almost given up on the human civilization ( not to forget I don't like the street dogs crying and howling at night and continuing with it for one hour to say the least. Cockroaches and flying cockroaches appearing from almost nowhere). Elders bless us with a long life but they always fail to mention a blessed, carefree long life. Who wants to li...

As a teenager, I disliked communicating with my parents and grandparents. I was an introvert and preferred spending time all by myself. I was also a shy kid and spent most of my time indoors. Reading, studying, writing and dancing was what I did mostly. On weekends I had my classmate come over and since we had a similar mindset, we enjoyed each others company. Fast forward to a few years now. I was in my early twenties and still did not communicate much with my parents and grandparents. And then suddenly one day, papa passed away and within the next three years, I lost my grandparents. I had none but my mother now. And some challenges. Everytime I faced something bad, I only wished to have some upper guidance. I was never sure of the decisions that I was making and whether they will turn out in my favour. Had a tough time and always wished for some communication especially with my dad and grandfather. My mother did her best but she too desired to have proper guidance. At present, I oft...

 ISN'T LESS MORE? Have you ever looked at the streets and roads and wondered about the narrow lanes? Have you ever noticed the buildings and houses and all the scattered settlements? And did you ever think of the fragmented clouds while doing so? The infinite sky with the countless stars and that one moon is basic but unparalleled! The rustling of innumerable leaves in the trees is perfectly, rhythmically at fault? But where is the happiness behind your heap of clothes? Where is the happiness behind your thick bundles of notes? Where is your happiness behind the ruthless handing of your gear? Isn't less more?

 CARELESSLY PERFECT  Must be a beautifully lit sunset evening Where life meets you, The purple sky greets you, YOU who is so plainly lost in thoughts of progress... Aren't you aware of the cosmic telepathy? Or a thought that should soulfully, solely, wholly  Connect the line of thread That separates us yet keeps us equated? So carelessly perfect a creature I have rarely come across So carelessly like me So perfect for me

Writing after a very,very long time. Wouldn't have but the beautiful weather urged me to pen down my thoughts. Lately I have been keeping myself busy with not just school work but a few other things that I consider to be very significant. Like walking. I like doing it alone but I don't say 'no' to people when they join. Frankly, I do ask them out sometimes if I find it absolutely necessary. I walk to keep my mind away from the regular chores. I walk to appreciate nature and I have been doing that a lot now a days. I am grateful to the master of all for creating such a lovely place for all of us. I am grateful for the sunrise and the sunset, the rain, the sky, the birds,the new leaves, the moon, the breeze, the puppies, the colourful flowers, the ponds. Pity that it's the 21st century where we mostly find gadgets and malls and superficial company worthier. The next thing that I do is visit a temple every evening. I don't usually start my day with praying but I tr...